Practical guidance, templates, and model documents to support responsible research, authorship, and integrity across the research lifecycle.
These documents are designed to support and enhance responsible research practice at UCT by providing practical guidance, model approaches, and structured tools that can be applied across a range of research, authorship, and academic contexts. They are intended to complement (rather than replace) the University’s policies, and should be read and used in conjunction with relevant institutional frameworks, including those governing research integrity, authorship, and academic and research misconduct. Together, they aim to assist researchers, supervisors, and students in setting clear expectations, promoting transparency, and fostering good practice throughout the research lifecycle. As additional guidance is developed in response to emerging needs and evolving practices, it will be made available on this page.
Planning and Managing Authorship
Authorship planning form (Student-Supervisor context)
A structured tool to support early discussion and agreement on authorship roles, order, and publication intentions.
Contribution Declaration Form (Student-Supervisor context)
A template to document and transparently describe individual contributions to a research output using recognised contribution roles.
Responsible Use of Tools and Technologies
Guidance to support transparent, accountable, and responsible use of emerging research and writing technologies.
Declaration on the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Academic Work
A comprehensive declaration to support transparent disclosure and responsible use of AI tools in academic and research outputs.
Guidelines for the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in Research (EiRC)
Guidance to support the ethical, transparent, and responsible use of generative AI in research, with attention to integrity, accountability, and emerging risks.
Understanding Policy and Practice
Guides that explain how institutional policies apply in practice and support informed decision-making.
Authorship Practices at UCT: A Guide for Students and Supervisors
A practical guide to the UCT Authorship Practices Policy, outlining key principles, expectations, and approaches to authorship.
Academic and Research Misconduct: What’s the Difference?
A guide explaining the distinction between academic misconduct and research misconduct, and how the two frameworks operate together.